Author Archives: Confanity

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About Confanity

I love the written word more than anything else I've had the chance to work with. I'm back in the States from Japan for grad school, but still studying Japanese with the hope of becoming a translator -- or writer, or even teacher -- as long as it's something language-related.

A long and winding situation

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Confanity

紆余曲折 u.yo.kyoku.setsu Literally: crouch – too much – bend – fold / fracture Alternately: 紆余 refers to something, especially a road, being full of twists and turns. 曲折 similarly refers to something being bent or zig-zag. Put them together and … Continue reading →

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High fructose corn syrup and lasers!

Posted on March 3, 2019 by Confanity

More mildly, Stevia and sharpened spoons? 口に蜜あり腹に剣あり (Kuchi ni mitsu ari hara ni ken ari; “Honey in the mouth and a sword in the gut”) Definition: Saying things that sound good, but secretly harboring malice or enmity. Honeyed words and … Continue reading →

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Pricier than formula and sunscreen!

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Confanity

(Just a reminder: hi is pronounced like “hee”) 乳母日傘 on.ba.hi.gasa Literally: milk / breast – mother – sun – umbrella Alternately: Raising a child with the utmost care. By extension, coddling and excess in child-rearing. Raising hothouse children. From the … Continue reading →

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The best way to be salty

Posted on February 24, 2019 by Confanity

敵に塩を送る (Teki ni shio wo okuru; “To send your enemy salt”) Definition: When an opponent is having some difficulty in distress, to offer aid instead of taking the opportunity to strike. May especially apply if the distress is unrelated to … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Helioseismology burp?

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Confanity

日進月歩 ni-.sshin.ge-.ppo Literally: day – advance – month – walk Alternately: Steady progress. A relatively smooth and rapid advance, especially of improvement or development in a positive direction. Notes: This compound has a surprising construction. In general, 日X月Y means something … Continue reading →

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Birds, bugs and beasts; weeds, trees, and flowers

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Confanity

鳥　虫　けもの、臭き花? 草木も眠る丑三つ時 (Kusaki mo nemuru ushi mitsu doki; “In the dead night, when even the grass and trees sleep”) Definition: A phrase describing the hushed, eerie early-morning hours. The dead of night. A time so late that not only people … Continue reading →

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Put some feelings into it!

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Confanity

Also chutzpah. And coriander. 感情移入 kan.jou.i.nyuu Literally: emotion – feelings – shift – enter Alternately: Empathy. The ability to sense and share in the feelings of others. Alternatively, the tendency to project one’s own perception of emotions onto a work … Continue reading →

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Men, said the Devil

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Confanity

…They don’t want to mend their own ways, but each other’s* 六国を滅ぼす者は六国なり (Rikkoku wo horobosu mono wa rikkoku nari; “The one who destroys the six countries, is the six countries”) Definition: When a nation falls, it usually isn’t ultimately due … Continue reading →

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No relation to Indian spices

Posted on February 6, 2019 by Confanity

Or to gum! 我武者羅 ga.mu.sha.ra Literally: oneself – warrior – person – gauze Alternately: Fixated on a goal to the point of blinding oneself to everything else. Charging ahead without looking to see what else is coming or what lies … Continue reading →

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When you hand-ear a neck

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Confanity

(Yes, 取 supposedly means “take” because it refers to taking a defeated enemy’s ear as a trophy in battle. So… appropriate?) 鬼の首を取ったよう (Oni no kubi wo totta you; “As if having taken an oni’s head”) Definition: Triumphant or boastful, especially … Continue reading →

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